Re: Boards to watch

I agree that game 218 is a good one to keep an eye on.  There is 
almost no chance now that a three way tie at 11 is agreed upon 
considering that the third member of that tie is currently in 49th 
place!  Basically, all three players now have incentive to stab.  
For two, it could mean the team tournament championship.  For the 
other, a failure to improve could leave him out of the semis.

Looking at the map, the English player has the advantage, most 
particularly against the Italian - not good news for the Schichi 
Fukujin.  The good news is that in only two years, there's only two 
centers that look vulnerable to the English, and the Italians may be 
able to make things up by stabbing the Russians, and it isn't like 
the Russians are invulnerable to England either.  The lonely Turkish 
fleet in Ankara may end up deciding which of Italy and Russia 
advance and thus which of Schichi Fukujin and the Riders is knocked 
out of the running for first place in the team tournament.  (And 
some people think a one unit position is boring!)

My guess is that the three way tie at 11 was arranged earlier, and 
now it just isn't reasonable.  It seems the trend on games finishing 
later is for the players to make deals to advance as many as 
possible.  Such a deal in game 226 is the reason for the Riders 
closing up the gap.  Hey, I'm not complaining since I may benefit 
from such a deal myself!  (crossing fingers)  But what it does mean 
is that those players just above the cutoff are in great danger of 
falling below it.

--- In [email protected], "Ray Setzer" <mczet@c...> wrote:
> Wow, you especially want to watch board 18. There is a Rider and a 
Shichi-
> Fukujin on that board. The Riders are now just 4 points behind the 
S-F and 8.77 
> behind the Stepsons! 
> 
> Looks like its gonna be a photo finish!